‘Break the Silence with Bags of Hope’ Fun Fair to be Held During Child Abuse Prevention Month

In order to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect while simultaneously collecting resources to help those in need, an event entitled “Break the Silence with Bags of Hope” will be held at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center next month.

According to the latest statistics available from the Indiana Department of Child Services’ child fatality report, nearly 60 Hoosier children died from some form of abuse or neglect in the 2016 State Fiscal Year.

Of those deaths, 42 percent were deemed accidental and
41 percent were determined to be homicide.

Statistics indicate that abusive head trauma
accounts for 92 percent of abuse cases. When it comes to neglect-related cases, vehicles
or other forms of transport were the leading cause of death at 32 percent with asphyxia
and drowning as the next most common causes at 23 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

Every year, April is recognized as Child
Abuse Prevention month to help bring those kinds of startling statistics to
light and to encourage communities to take action to protect local children.

To do their part to raise awareness, the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office and Starke County Department of Child Services are teaming up with Mary Beth Photography to host a fun fair.

On Saturday, April 6th individuals and families can come and enjoy games and activities at the community center in Knox from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The cost of admission will be one item that can be added to one of their “bags of hope.”